2024 French Cup | 7 & 8 Guipavas
21st – 22nd September
Written by Damien Ethalon
Photo’s by Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE
2024 French Cup | 7 & 8 Guipavas
21st – 22nd September
Written by Damien Ethalon
Photo’s by Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE
After a crazy summer with a triple French podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games it was time for the French BMX circuit to return to the French Cup. Everybody looked west coast, to Guipavas, near Brest, on the Atlantic coast for two more rounds of the series.
The Guipavas track is small, with a 5m hill, no ‘pro section’ and tight, slippery turns due to the rain, especially on Saturday. A set of circumstances that would add up to a lot of crashes over the weekend, unfortunately.
On the men side, as expected the three Olympic medalists did not show, but the women’s silver medalist, Manon Veenstra, who is racing for a French team, made the trip.
After a disappointing 7th place in the Olympic final, Axelle Etienne, was looking for a revenge! And she was impressive in Guipavas, taking the win both days, emphatically! The expectation was a battle between her and Veenstra but unfortunately Manon crashed hard in a first turn pile up during the main on Saturday and didn’t line up on Sunday. Emma Patraccone grabbed another podium with a 2nd place on Saturday, while Zoé Hapka did the same on Sunday. But the most consistent women behind Axelle were Marie Favrel who finished with a 3rd and a 4th on her home track, and veteran Manon Valentino who had the same results but in reverse … 4th and 3rd.
Lea Brindjonc reached the main twice with a 6th on Saturday due to the crash, and a 7th on Sunday. The Olympic alternate Tessa Martinez and Camille maire were also involved in the first turn carnage during Saturday’s main.
Three youngsters made a main appearance on Sunday with Naelle Michaud finishing 5th, Avril Pillet 6th and Laurine Crozet 8th.
Elite Women: Saturday
1. ETIENNE
2. PATRACCONE
3. FAVREL
4. VALENTINO
5. MARTINEZ
6. BRINDJONC
7. MAIRE
8. VEENSTRA
Elite Women: Sunday
1. ETIENNE
2. HAPKA
3. VALENTINO
4. FAVREL
5. MICHAUD
6. PILLET
7. BRINDJONC
8. CROZET
Ranking after 7 Rounds:
1. Lea BRINDJONC 325 pts
2. Emma PATRACCONE 278 pts
3. Camille MAIRE 273 pts
4. Axelle ETIENNE 252 pts
5. Zoe HAPKA 214 pts
Guipavas is not his home track but the west coast, most specifically, Bretagne is his homeland … we are of course talking about Arthur Pilard! The current European Champion was absolutely unbeatable all weekend, he left with a double victory!
Behind ‘King Pils’ were a lot of hungry youngsters who found their way to a main over the weekend.
Mathid Ragot Richard was crazy fast as usual, finishing 2nd on Saturday and 7th on Sunday. He was followed on both day by Roberto Bertagnoli, the Italian Olympian. Two other men made the main on both days; Hugo Marszalek rode very well with a 5th and an impressive 3rd, while Dylan Gobert is, slowly but surely, getting back to business with a 8th and a 4th. Tom Won Fah Hin made a huge impression finishing 4th on Saturday. While Louison Rousseau and Théo Thouin were also featured in the mains, getting 6th and 7th. The other noticeable performance came from the current U23 European champ Alexis Pieczanowsky who finished 2nd on Sunday. Tanguy Rivoire and Nathanael Dieuaide also reached the last lap of the day with a 5th and a 6th.
Elite Men: Saturday
1. PILARD
2. RAGOT RICHARD
3. BERTAGNOLI
4. WON FAH HIN
5. MARSZALEK
6. ROUSSEAU
7. THOUIN
8. GOBERT
Elite Men: Sunday
1. PILARD
2. PIECZANOWSKY
3. MARSZALEK
4. GOBERT
5. RIVOIRE
6. DIEUAIDE
7. RAGOT RICHARD
8. BERTAGNOLI
Ranking after 7 Rounds:
1. PILARD 436 pts
2. Michael BIAS 378 pts
3. Mathis RAGOT RICHARD 302 pts
4. Hugo MARZALEK 299 pts
5. Corentin DUBOIS 282 pts
The final two rounds of the 2024 French Cup will be held in La Chapelle Saint Mesmin, a brand new Supercross track, on October 19th and 20th.